October 1999
I close the door to Josh’s office and turn off the overhead lights. I move slowly and carefully to
Josh’s comfy leather chair and lower myself into it. My head gently rests on the cushiony part of the
chair and I close my eyes while I sigh my relief. Yes…it is migraine time. I would give anything to be
home in bed right now, but my roommate is having a party and being there would be torture. I took
my migraine meds, but I may have gotten to them too late. It’s just that they make me so tired and I
don’t have a spot to sleep in the West Wing. Josh’s chair is relatively comfortable but it’s not ideal,
even with the lap blanket I brought in with me.
I’m barely cocooned there for two minutes when I hear the door open. The only person,
besides me, who’d open the door without knocking and that is Josh.
“Don’t. touch.thelight.switch.” I mutter and his feet freeze where’s he’s standing.
“Is our relationship about to change Donnatella?” he teases. He thinks he’s SO funny.
“I’m having… a migraine.” I manage and he is at my side instantly. He is very considerate when
I get one of these.
“Why didn’t you go home?” he asks while he strokes my arm gently.
“Roommate. Party.” I tell him.
“God, Donna, you have got to get rid of that roommate…and her damnable cats.”
“I think…that’s a problem…for another day.” I moan.
“Did you take your medication?”
“What do you think?”
“Okay. Sorry.” He apologized for the stupid question. I know he’s just searching for some way
he can help, but seriously. “Look, I’ll put a Do Not Disturb sign on my door and go work in Toby’s
office for awhile. I’ll come back and check on you, Okay?”
“’Kay.” And I’m asleep in moments…
Pain! Huge pain! What is that noise??!! Shit. Josh’s phone. I reach blindly behind in front of
me and hit speakerphone.
“Josh Lyman.”
“Donna, will you tell Josh he needs to turn on CNN right now? I can’t believe the story they’re
doing! Thanks.” Leo hangs up before I can even respond.
I try Toby’s office but the line is busy. I’m going to have to go there personally. Covering my
eyes against the glaring light I make my way to Toby’s office.
“Donna! What are you doing up?” Josh shouts and I wince at the sound. He takes my arm and
gently seats me on Toby’s couch with one hand and shuts the lights off with his other hand.
“Hey!” Toby protests with equal pitch and I wince again.
“Shut up, Toby, the woman has a migraine!” Josh defends me, which is nice, except that he
hasn’t lowered his volume either.
“Shhhhh.” I tell them. “Leo wants you to turn on CNN right away.”
“Why didn’t you just call?” Josh asks quietly.
“Line was busy.” I explain and I can see through the slits in my eyelids the dirty look Josh gives
Toby after gesturing that his phone is off the hook.
“I don’t like to be interrupted when I’m writing.” Toby counters and turns on CNN although he’s
careful to keep the volume low.
Josh sits next to me on the couch. “Let me take you back to my office.”
“Too far. I just want to sleep.” I complain and tears slip from my eyes. I feel Josh take my
shoulders and lower my head onto a pillow he’s put on his lap.
“Then sleep. Get some rest.” He encourages me and starts stroking my hair. Normally, I don’t
like to be touched at all when I’m having a migraine, but this touch is so soothing and it lulls me into
that kind of half-sleep that is so relaxing. Every once in awhile I catch a bit of the quiet conversation
between these two men, but I don’t pay much attention until I hear something that catches my ear;
a female voice
“Comfortable?” I hear CJ ask.
“Yes.” Josh tells her and continues to stroke my hair.
“You’re going to start rumors if someone sees this.”
“First of all, lower your voice. Secondly, people who work in this building, and who would walk in this
room right now, are generally intelligent people.” he shoots back. “Are you telling me that you took
one look at this and immediately assumed I was sleeping with my assistant?” Warning shot fired
over the bough.
“Um...maybe not.” C.J. allows.
“She has a migraine.” Josh explained.
“Send her home.” She persists and I can hear Josh’s voice take on
that edge of his. You know the one; like he has to explain something elementary to a Republican
Congressman, for the third time. Josh has many gifts, but patience isn’t one of them. I think about
rousing fully at this point and sitting up, but it’s just too hard.
“I tried. Her roommate’s having a party.” He tells her. “When I leave, I’m going to bring her home
with me. She gets pretty sick when she gets these.”
“You’re going to bring your assistant to spend the night at your
house?”
“My assistant who’s also my friend.” He reminds her. His tone is getting more annoyed. That’s so
sweet…
“We’ve got some PR problems now, Josh.” CJ replies. “I don’t want to
add you to them.”
“Thank you, CJ, for your high opinion of me and Donna.” He replies harshly. I have to intervene
before one of these two says something they’re going to regret.
“Josh...” I groan and press my fingers to my head.
“Shhh, it’s okay. I don’t think you’re going to be able to rest here.” He says with a tone in his voice
that I can tell is directed at CJ. “I’m taking you home now.” I get up slowly and he keeps his arm
around my shoulders.
We stop briefly in Josh’s office, but the second he puts me in his chair there I am out like a light. I
don’t remember leaving his office, the White House, or arriving at his apartment.
What I do recall, with absolutely painful clarity is waking up in Josh’s arms the next morning. I
was in a tank top and shorts with no recollection of putting them on last night, which alarmed me for
a second, but then I felt Josh’s arm wrapped around my waist and I realized where I was and who I
was with. My body instantly relaxed. For a man who needs me to take care of everything from
packing his backpack to tying his ties, he does an incredible job taking care of me when I’m sick.
I know I should get up but it feels so nice that I can’t bear to get up. What woman doesn’t want
to revel in the feeling of being protected and cared for like this from the man she- Wait! What I
meant was that such a dear and caring….friendship, brings feelings of…restfulness… that anyone,
man or woman, would want to continue to experience…for as long as they could. Did that sound as
awkward and forced as it felt? That’s when it hits me... I am falling for Josh Lyman.